The members of Akatsuki were regrouping inside the valley, training as part of their daily routine.
Not long ago, with Nagato's power, they had managed to stop the battle between Iwagakure's Four-Tails jinchūriki and Konoha's Jiraiya, preventing the spark of another great-nation conflict.
But it was precisely because of that battle that Akatsuki finally faced a hard truth—
Aside from their core fighting force, Nagato… even Konan and Yahiko, who had also trained under Jiraiya for a time, had become limited in what they could contribute in a true Kage-level battle.
It was a blow.
They had gathered from war-torn lands for a shared dream of peace. No one wanted to chase that dream only to watch their comrades' backs in helpless silence. No one wanted to become dead weight.
So recently—led by Yahiko—Akatsuki had entered a phase of all-hands, relentless training.
Nagato was genuinely happy about it.
The stronger his companions became, the higher their chances of surviving when they built the bridge to peace. To become the foundation of that peace would already be glorious—
But who didn't want to personally see what the world looked like when peace finally arrived?
Naturally, as the strongest among them—and the one who knew the most ninjutsu—Nagato took on the duty of guiding everyone's training. Even when each day left him so exhausted he needed someone to help him back to his room, he did it willingly, without complaint.
"Ugh, seriously… can't Yahiko let Nagato rest a little?" Konan frowned inside their rain shelter, watching Yahiko drag Nagato into sparring the moment he had a sliver of free time. She was about to march out and lecture him—
When the girl beside her grabbed her hand first, smiling brightly.
"It's fine, Konan. They're just training a little harder than usual. It's not like they've reached the point where we have to force them to rest. Besides, even if they really do collapse from exhaustion… I'm here, aren't I?"
"No." Konan tugged on Karin Uzumaki's sleeve, rolling it up to point at the bite marks that hadn't fully faded. Her voice turned stern. "Karin, you're one of us. Even if Uzumaki vitality is strong, you still shouldn't treat it like something you can just casually spend!"
"I'll use the Uzumaki clan's healing techniques for ordinary fatigue and small injuries," Karin said, still grinning. "This is the emergency last card—only for when everyone's life is truly on the line."
Looking at Karin's bright smile—warmer and more open by the day since joining Akatsuki—Konan, despite being the younger one, sighed like an older sister. She ruffled Karin's red hair with a gentler hand.
"We'll do our best not to ever need that card, Karin."
"But it's better to have it than not—huh? What's that?"
Karin rubbed against Konan's hand and pointed. Somehow, a white snake had slithered into the house, a scroll held in its mouth.
"That…" Konan's brows lifted with surprise. "That's Kaguya Ren's messenger summon. Didn't we just meet him a few days ago? Why is he sending a message through a snake again?"
Konan walked over, took the scroll from the snake's mouth. The snake opened wide and spat out a peculiar token as well—then coiled quietly to the side, waiting for a reply.
"A token… and a scroll…" Konan pondered, then stepped to the eaves and called into the rain where Yahiko and Nagato were still sparring. "Nagato. Yahiko. Come look—Kaguya Ren seems to have something to commission."
"Hah? What does that guy want now?" Yahiko complained.
"Let's hear it first," Nagato said, stopping his hand seals. His Rinnegan narrowed thoughtfully. "When we parted, he looked like he was going back to do something big. This message is probably related."
They suspended the day's training and instruction. Nagato and Yahiko entered the hut, and together with Konan, unrolled the scroll—
Poof.
"Oh, you three are all here. Afternoon."
Kaguya Ren's shadow clone appeared from the scroll, greeting them casually.
"What's so urgent that you're using a shadow clone plus a summon just to contact us?" Yahiko crossed his arms, eyeing Ren's new outfit—blue-and-white hat, matching robe with no insignia—clicking his tongue. "Also… new clothes again? What's the meaning this time?"
"This?" Ren tugged at the fabric, tone light. "It isn't finished yet. But once I'm back from the task I'm about to commission you for, it'll become the symbol and proof of my position as the Fourth Mizukage."
"Fourth… Mizukage?"
Nagato froze, disbelief flashing across his face.
"You already succeeded in a coup? In Kirigakure? One of the Five Great Nations?!"
"What, did you expect me to go back and keep 'lying low,' 'endure,' 'farm,' and wait until the war drains Kiri dry—then step in like a lurking mantis to harvest what's left?" Ren shook his finger. "Too late. Too slow."
"When you're sure you have the ability to change a country—and that country has reached the point where change is necessary—acting is always more meaningful than waiting for some 'perfect timing.' Don't you think so, Nagato?"
Nagato went quiet for a moment.
"…The Land of Rain isn't at that point," he said at last. "Hanzo is only overly focused on self-preservation. Amegakure and the Land of Rain still need his strength to maintain basic peace."
"Mm. If you truly believe that, then let's make a bet." Ren took the token from Konan's hand, idly flipping it through his fingers as he addressed all three of them.
"In a few days, I'll hold ceasefire negotiations with the Land of Fire's Third Hokage, at the very place where the First Hokage once hosted the Five Kage Summit. I want to invite your organization, as an independent party, to serve as witnesses and guards. It'll give you a chance to make a name across the shinobi world."
"Akatsuki," Ren said, smiling. "Will you accept the commission?"
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